Chapter 8

• While Susan was in the bathroom recuperating with the cold water running down her head. He called out “hey girl aren’t you done?! I will be waiting in my room, don't make me wait for too long” he growled and walked out of the room.
• She slid down the bathroom wall and curled herself into a ball. The thought of Mr Klaus with his protruding belly on top of her made her want to vomit.
• Although it's not a new thing, she just couldn't get used to it. All the stupid things she did, as she always termed them, were out of indispensability. Her eyes swam with tears, she hated her life so much.
• if only she had a strong relationship with her Mom. Things wouldn't have been this way. “Susan, snap out of this clinical depression!” She whispered to herself and with that she sprang up to her feet and continued her bath.
• Mr Klaus had long slept when she tiptoed to his room, her lips parted slightly revealing a sad smile while her eyes glistened. She pulled the door gently and went back to her room where she crawled up under the duvet and forced herself to sleep.
• Mr Austin has thought himself into another sickness. Ever since his daughter, Rose got married and left him, he had gone back to drinking even on being advised not to by the doctor after his last surgery and it has made him sober.
• His daily routine has changed from what he usually does when she was with him to drinking all day, probably won't get to eat but would gulp down glass after glass and go on a thinking spree about how his late wife marooned him.
• “But I tried! He groaned and sniffed back the mucus coming out of his nose. “ What could have changed? He continued his soliloquy.
• “I worked so hard to give her a comfortable life, bitterness crept up his face while he complained to the walls and empty couches in the parlor. He had been a loving husband to Lucy despite her unfaithfulness.
• He tried to give her a luxurious life but couldn't attain his goal. “ But how could I be so foolish? He pondered to himself. Susan wasn't his daughter, and she didn't bother to tell him not until she filed a divorce.
• He fathered another man's child without his consent, a tear rolled down his aging face, but he wiped it off instantly and gulped down another glass.
• “Why am I crying? He wondered, Lucy isn't worth my tears. " Moreover She's dead now, I'm still living”. He added to console his shattered self then proceeded to take out her photo from his wallet which was part of his drama.
• He knew he hadn't gotten over her, it hurts him so bad. He wished to know why she did him like that but probably she didn't see him worthy of explanation.
• He had come back from work that day and met her packing after a fight they had in the morning. And when he inquired from her what it was, she brought out the papers and asked him to sign them.
• He thought it was all about the misunderstanding they had earlier and tried to pet her, “ Susan is not your daughter! She thundered. He paused.
• As if Lucy knew what he wanted to ask, “ yes Austin, and please sign those papers, I would come back for it”. She restated. Then along With Susan she left. leaving pubescent Rose as confused as her dad.
• No one heard from her for a long time. Rose kept asking after her, thoughts concealed the father and the whole thing made him sick. He pushed his luck in meeting her and when he finally did, she was far gone.
• It was later he found out she actually left him for another man and the man wasn't Susan's biological dad also. She did all that for fame. He knew she'd always loved the outside world, the luxurious world of wine and chocolate puddings.
• “But she loved me enough to marry me, he hinted. He repeated this act for days, it turned to weeks then months. He probably found peace in his solitude and decided to stay there, since Rose won't visit him no matter how much he asks.
• He has called her several times to complain of one problem or the other, the only ones she paid heed to was the monetary need as Damian was there to solve it.
• “Captain, my dad called and he wants to… “money?” Damian would interject and might not want to hear the rest of the narrative. Rose would muffle a ‘thank you’, at least he cares and she doesn't need to put up an attitude as it never got her anywhere.
• He had no idea of what his daughter could possibly be going through in her marriage. “It's all the same for them, money money money! Do they even think about death? He gibed.
• He picked up Lucy's photo again and glanced at it with his index finger crossing all over her face. “ Did you really die from cancer? Huh? Answer me!? You fustilarian! He gritted his teeth.
• “You literally had no shame, I thought you were as holy as you appeared. I should've listened to your Ex lover when he told me to leave you alone. Oh my goodness! He knew you more than I thought, why did you lie to me?
• That man told me Susan was his child but you denied it, you said he just wanted us to break up so he could marry you.
• Now tell me who you divorced me for? You pathetic liar!” Austin took out his vestation on the wall, where he punched till his knuckles bleed. Waiting for an answer from the photo, he fell asleep.
• Damian was driving home then noticed a car had been following him closely. “Who could that be? Do I really have enemies this determined? He asked himself. I know I have envyers but it should end with the media. What does this person want?” puzzled Damian as he patted his wheel.